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Running A 
Modern Locomotive 


Practical Instruction to be Combined with Actual Working 
Experience. Designed for Apprentice Engineers Employed 
as Student Firemen. Comprises the new Examinations 
Firemen are Required to take upon the Completion of 
their First Year and Second Year of Service. The 
Answers are Complete and Explanatory, making 
an Instructive Treatise or Post Graduate Course 
of Instruction for Locomotive Firemen. 


By 

FREDERICK J. PRIOR 

Being one of the Series of the Prior System of Self Educational 
Text and Reference Books. 


Issued and Published 

Exclusively by the Educational Department 
of the 

AMERICAN JOURNAL OF RAILWAYS 
AND RAILROADING 

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS 





rT6°7 

~p'3"3 


COPYRIGHT 1912 


BY 

FREDERICK J. PRIOR 
All Rights Reserved 


EXPLANATORY NOTE. 


Upon first entering the service of a railway com¬ 
pany the new fireman is handed a little book of first 
year questions which, he is expected to answer intelli¬ 
gently and correctly at the end of his first year of 
employment. After having passed the first year ex¬ 
amination he is given another little book containing 
the second year examination questions, which he will 
find more difficult, the answers to which he will be 
expected to give at the end of his second year of ser¬ 
vice as a fireman. Assuming he makes a satisfactory 
showing and passes his second year examination he is 
given the third year book, which is the final mechani¬ 
cal examination for promotion from fireman to en¬ 
gineer. Naturally this examination is much harder 
than the two preceding ones and it is designed to show 
not only what knowledge he has acquired, but also 
what use he can make of that knowledge and how he 
would use and apply it under certain varying condi¬ 
tions. 

The answers to all questions are usually required in 
writing, but it is customary to subject aspirants for 
the post of engineer to searching oral questions—not 
necessarily those in the examination books but con¬ 
structed so as to elicit answers that will reveal whether 
or not the REASONS for certain questions in the ex¬ 
amination were clearly understood and to determine 
whether or not the meaning of the answers from va¬ 
rious angles and covering the subjects in their en¬ 
tirety is fully comprehended. 

3 



4 


EXPLANATORY NOTE 


The answers to the questions as given in the “Prior 
System” of self-educational text books are reliable 
because authoritative, but they are not intended to be 
copied or committed to memory without a proper 
understanding of the subjects they cover an’d of the 
principles involved. Primarily, they are intended to 
lead the student to think for himself, hence the pains¬ 
taking care with which many of the answers are ex¬ 
plained at great length. Diligent study, coupled with 
daily practical experience in the operation of a loco¬ 
motive, will enable the student who uses these self- 
instruction aids to thoroughly master the details, un¬ 
derstand the why and wherefore, and know the rea¬ 
sons for questions having been asked, and consequent¬ 
ly he will be able to answer the examination questions 
in his own words , intelligently and correctly. 

In the preparation of answers to the examination 
questions the utmost care has been taken not only to 
make the subjects covered easy of comprehension, but 
also to bring out clearly the reasons for certain all- 
important questions having been asked and to make 
the answers fully explanatory. 

By the self-educational method of the “Prior Sys¬ 
tem” there is a freedom and latitude as to time and 
opportunity for study, but if circumstances cause the 
study periods to come at irregular intervals, the best 
possible use should be made of every opportunity. 

Students who set out with firm purpose to acquire 
the knowledge and skill necessary to qualify for the 
highly responsible position of locomotive engineer will 
find the Prior System of self-educational text and 
reference books to be ever ready faithful helpers. 


TABLE OF CONTENTS 


First Year Mechanical Examination 
First Year Mechanical Examination Oil Firing 
Second Year Mechanical Examination 


(See back of the book for Alphabetical Index) 















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FIRST YEAR 
MECHANICAL EXAMINATION 
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 





FIRST YEAR. 

MECHANICAL EXAMINATION QUESTIONS 
AND ANSWERS. 


Ques.: 1. What are the firemen’s duties on ar¬ 
rival at engine-house previous to going out? 

Ans.: First, examine the fire to see that it is clean; 
second, try the grates to see that they work properly; 
third, look at the flues and crown sheet to make sure 
there are no leaks, and in case there are leaks call the 
engineer’s attention to them; fourth, see that the proper 
tools are on the engine (scoop, shakebar, rake, etc.), 
also the proper flags, fuses, torpedoes, red light and 
other supplies; fifth, see that there is plenty of coal 
and sand and a full tank of water; sixth, build up the 
fire and get it in proper shape for the run, and if time 
permits assist the engineer with such work as is cus¬ 
tomary. 

Ques.: 2. How long have you been in the serv¬ 
ice and for whom are you firing? 

Ans.: This question must be answered by the stu¬ 


dent. 


9 



10 


THE NEW FIRST AND SECOND YEAR 


Ques.: 3. Have you acquired the habit of com¬ 
paring time with the engineer, and do you insist 
on seeing the train orders, as provided for in 
Transportation Rule No. 210, under the head “Rules 
for Movement by Train Orders?” 

Ans.: Yes, and it is in accordance with the rules. 
Even if the rules did not require it, it is essential for 
a man’s own safety to compare watches and understand 
all train orders. 

Ques.: 4. Do you thoroughly understand all 
signals on the road? 

Ans.: This answer depends upon the knowledge 
of the signals which the student has acquired. 

Ques.: 5. Describe the various signals? 

Ans.: This must also be answered by the student 
from his personal knowledge. 

Ques.: 6. In addition to any that you have 
mentioned, what else do you consider a danger 
signal? 

Ans.: The absence of a usual signal, or any un¬ 
usual signal given, should be considered a danger sig¬ 
nal until its meaning is fully understood. 

Ques.: 7. If you should discover that a fixed 


MECHANICAL EXAMINATIONS 


11 


signal is missing, or imperfectly displayed, what 
is your duty? 

Ans.: Stop and be governed the same as though 
a danger signal had been displayed. 

Ques.: 8. What is steam? 

Ans.: Steam is water converted from its liquid 

form to its gaseous form. Many substances can be 
changed from liquids to either solids or gases. Water, 
for example, can be changed into ice or steam, and to 
change from one form to another it is necessary to 
change the temperature. Steam is generated by heat¬ 
ing water sufficiently to raise its temperature to the 
point where water boils, or in other words, changes 
from its liquid form to a gas. 

Ques.: 9. What do you understand by the 
pressure indicated by the steam gauge? 

Ans.: The steam gauge indicates the pressure in 
the boiler above the ordinary atmospheric pressure. 
The term atmospheric pressure means the pressure 
that surrounds us, and acts uniformly on all things at 
the surface of the earth. This pressure is due to the 
weight of the air. Scientists tell us that there is a 
body of air surrounding the earth to an average 
heighth of fifty miles. If we could weigh a column of 


12 


THE NEW FIRST AND SECOND YEAR 


air, one square inch in section and fifty miles high, we 
would find its weight to be 14.7 pounds. The weight 
of the air on the earth, therefore, is 14.7 pounds on 
each square inch of area, and the term atmospheric 
pressure indicates this pressure or the weight of the 
air of 14.7 pounds per square inch. 

Ques.: 10. What do you mean by atmospheric 
pressure? 

Ans.: The weight or pressure of the atmosphere 
(or air) which surrounds the earth—about 15 pounds 
per square inch at sea level. 

Ques.: 11. What is the purpose of a safety 
valve, and of what use is the second safety valve? 

Ans.: To insure safety by providing an outlet for 
steam when the pressure is greater than that which the 
boiler is designed to withstand. Safety valves operate 
automatically and generally two or three “pops” are 
provided so that in case one should fail to open the 
others will relieve the excess pressure within the 
boiler. 

Ques.: 12. What are the principal elements 
entering into the composition oi bituminous coal? 

Ans.: Carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen, sulphur 


MECHANICAL EXAMINATIONS 


13 


and ash; carbon about 80%; hydrogen about 5%, and 
the remaining 15% waste or non-combustible. The 
percentage of each element varies with different quali¬ 
ties of coal. 

Ques.: 13. What is the main difference be¬ 
tween bituminous and anthracite coals? 

Ans.: Bituminous coal has more volatile gases which 
make flames. Anthracite coal has a large percentage of 
fixed carbon. 

Ques.: 14. What is carbon, and whence do we 
obtain oyxgen? 

Ans.: Carbon is an elementary substance found in 
nature in great quantities in combination with many 
other substances and in its elementary state in' several 
different forms. For instance, coke or charcoal, 
graphite or plumbago and diamonds are all different 
forms of pure carbon. Its principal value as a fuel 
is due to its property of burning to form gases instead 
of solid substances. This property makes it practical 
for use as a fuel, and as it is the principal part of coal, 
oil and wood, it is the principal fuel used for all pur¬ 
poses. It is found in coal in its elementary state as 
fixed carbon. When the coal is heated the volatile 
matter it contains is driven off, leaving this fixed car- 


14 


THE NEW FIRST AND SECOND YEAR 


bon or coke on the grates. The volatile matter also 
contains carbon united with hydrogen in the form of 
hydro-carbon 1 gases. Oxygen is obtained from the at¬ 
mosphere. 

Ques.: 15. What per cent of oxygen is in the 
atmosphere? 

Ans.: The atmosphere contains by weight 23% of 
oxygen and by volume 20% of oxygen. 

Ques.: 1G. About what per cent of carbon is 
there in bituminous coal? 

Ans.: About 80%. 

Ques.: 17. What is combustion? 

Ans.: Combustion, in simple language, means burn¬ 
ing, the burning of anything being an illustration of 
the process of combustion. To give a more theoreti¬ 
cal definition, it is the rapid chemical combination of 
any substance with what is known as oxygen. This 
combination produces light and heat. 

Ques.: 18. What is the igniting temperature of 
carbon and oxygen? 

Ans.: About 1800 degrees F. 

Ques.: 19. What other heat-giving properties 
are there in bituminous coal? 


MECHANICAL EXAMINATIONS 


15 


Ans.: About 5% of hydrogen. 

Ques.: 20. In what condition should the fire 
be to consume those gases? 

Ans.: The fire must be hot enough so that the 
necessary temperature for the burning of these gases is 
present, also light enough so that there is enough air 
present to mix with and burn them. 

Ques.: 21. What is the appearance of a fire 

when it is at a very high temperature? 

Ans.: It must be above 1800 degrees F., and the 
temperature can be judged by the appearance of the 
fire, a bright red fire being just about at a temperature 
of 1800 degrees F. 

Ques.: 22. How can you maintain your fire 
in this condition? 

Ans.: A fire can be maintained in this condition 
by having it built properly to start with; by carrying a 
light, level and bright fire, and by firing light and 
often with coal well broken up, spreading the coal 
evenly on the bright spots and closing the door between 
each scoopful, adding fuel only often enough to keep 
up the necessary steam pressure. 

Ques.: 23. What is the effect of putting four 


16 


THE NEW FIRST AND SECOND YEAR 


or more scoops of coal on a bright fire? Why is 
this a waste of fuel? 

Ans.: The effect is the more coal placed on the 
fire at one time, the more the temperature of the fire¬ 
box is reduced, causing it to fall below the igniting 
temperature of the gases, resulting in the large volume 
of gases thus liberated not mixing with the air in the 
fire box, and being drawn through the flues uncon¬ 
sumed, causing expansion and contraction of the fire¬ 
box and sheets and increasing the amount of black 
smoke. It is a waste of fuel to fire in this manner 
and besides it leads to leaky flues and causes the fire 
to become clinkered or dirty very quickly. 

Ques.: 24. Define black smoke. 

Ans.: Black smoke consists of a mixture of gases 
and carbon, the greater part being carbon. 

Ques.: 25. Is it combustible? 

Ans.: It is combustible, but in locomotive service 
cannot be consumed after it has once formed. 

Ques.: 26. How can black smoke be avoided? 

Ans.: By attention to drafting and by not running 
locomotives beyond their economical capacity; by using 
coal of quality good enough to produce good results. 


MECHANICAL EXAMINATIONS 


17 


and by keeping the fire in proper condition by careful 
firing. 

Ques.: 27. Is it necessary to prevent black 
smoke? If so, why? 

Ans.: It is necessary to prevent black smoke, as 
thereby labor is saved and the amount of fuel burned 
in getting over a division is greatly reduced. 

Ques.: 28. Describe the method of firing which 
will produce the least smoke and at the same time 
be the most economical in the use of fuel. 

Ans.: Generally speaking, the bright spots should 
be covered with fresh coal, because they indicate places 
where the fire is nearly burned out and where com¬ 
bustion is taking place most rapidly, therefore, they 
should be covered or they would burn out and leave 
dead spots in the fire. 

Ques.: 29. How would you build up your fire 
at stations and avoid black smoke? 

Ans.: Would see that the coal was well broken 
and would fire as little at a time as possible in ac¬ 
cordance with the conditions, using the blower, fire^ 
door and dampers in order to prevent black smoke. 


18 


THE NEW FIRST AND SECOND YEAR 


Ques.: 30. Has improper firing any tendency to 
cause flues to leak? 

Ans.: Yes; because improper firing may result in 
holes or dead spots or banks in the fire, which would 
cause sudden changes in the temperature of the fire¬ 
box, resulting often in leaky flues, because of the ex¬ 
pansion and contraction in the metal, due to sudden 
temperature changes. When firing locomotives having 
wide fire-boxes one has to be extra careful in this re¬ 
spect, as the danger of leaky flues, due to this cause; 
is greater. 

Ques.: 31. Has a locomotive a natural or forced 
draft while working? 

Ans.: A forced draft. 

Ques.: 32. What is the object of having ex¬ 
haust steam go through the stack? 

Ans.: To create a forced draft. 

Ques.: 33. How does the exhaust create a draft 
through the fire? 

Ans.: The draft is created through the fire by the 
action of the exhaust steam passing through the nozzle 
in the front end and out the stack. This exhaust 
steam in its passage to the stack drives with it the air 


MECHANICAL EXAMINATIONS 


19 


and gases in the front end, leaving a partially empty 
space or vacuum there. If the front end is tight, the 
only way this vacuum can be supplied is by the air 
forcing its way through the ash-pan, through the fire 
and flues and into the front end. This exhaust action 
being practically continuous, produces a constant draft 
on 1 the fire during the time steam is being used. 

Ques.: 34. How does the size of the nozzle af¬ 
fect the fire? 

Ans.: The size of the exhaust nozzle tip can be in¬ 
creased or reduced; the larger the nozzle, the less, as 
a rule will be the amount of vacuum created in the 
smoke-box, and in consequence there would be less 
draft on the fire. By reducing the size of the nozzle 
the vacuum created in the front end is greater, re¬ 
sulting in more draft on the fire. But to change the 
size of the nozzle causes a corresponding change in 
the back pressure of the cylinder, a point for consid¬ 
eration when regulating the size of the nozzle. Bridges 
are sometimes placed across the nozzle tip to spread 
the exhaust so it will fill the stack nearer the base; but 
a bridge is usually used to overcome some defect in the 
front-end arrangement. 

Ques.: 35. What good effect has opening the 


20 


THE NEW FIRST AND SECOND YEAR 


fire-box door when engine is at work? What bad 
effect? 

Ans.: The bad effects are that it allows the cold 
air to get into the fire-box above the fire instead of 
passing up through it, thus reducing the draft on the 
fire. It also admits air in such large quantities as in 
some cases to stop the combustion of the gases above 
the fire. It also causes leaky flues. The good effect 
if air is admitted in small quantities above the fire 
is that the oxygen mixes with the gases and aids in 
burning them. 

Ques.: 36. Is it necessary to have a large 
quantity of air to generate steam rapidly? 

Ans.: Combustion always takes place in accord¬ 
ance with certain well-defined laws, a certain amount 
of oxygen always being necessary to burn a certain 
amount of fuel. Theoretically, it requires about 150 
cubic feet of air to burn one pound of an ordinary 
grade of coal; however, the quality of coal varies so 
much and the locomotive conditions are so severe 
that speaking generally and from a practical stand¬ 
point, it is figured that 250 cubic feet of air are 
necessary to burn one pound of coal. 


MECHANICAL EXAMINATIONS 


21 


Ques.: 37. When the fuel burns mostly in the 
front end of the fire-box, what does it denote? 

Ans.: It indicates that the diaphragm needs ad¬ 
justing. 

Ques.: 38. When it burns mostly under the 
fire-box door what does it indicate? 

Ans.: The petticoat pipes need adjusting, or the 
grates may have become clogged with ashes and clink¬ 
ers so that sufficient air could not pass through them 
to the fire. 

Ques.: 39. How can these defects be remedied? 

Ans.: By a correct adjustment of the diaphragm 
and petticoat pipes, and if this does not have the de¬ 
sired effect, the nozzle should be bushed. 

Ques.: 40. Why are grates made to shake and 
when should they be shaken? 

Ans.: The grates are so made in order that the fire 
may be kept clean and the ashes be shaken into the 
ash-pan. Grates should be shaken 1 often enough to 
keep the fire clean and in good condition. 

Ques.: 41. What causes a “pull” on the fire-door? 

Ans.: The partial vacuum in the front end; exces- 


22 


THE NEW FIRST AND SECOND YEAR 


sive “pull” indicates dampers closed, grates clinkered 
or stopped up. 

Ques.: 42. Why is it very important that coal 
should be broken so that it will not be larger than 
an ordinary sized apple before being put into the 
fire-box? 

Ans.: If coal is broken to about the size of an 
apple before firihg it gives better results than when in 
big lumps for the reason that a greater surface is pre¬ 
sented to the action of the fire, hence burning takes 
place more rapidly, the coal can be spread more evenly 
and a better fire can be maintained. 

Ques.: 43. When and why should you wet the 
coal down? 

Ans.: No benefit is obtained by wetting coal before 
firing (except in the case of very fine coal), in which 
case wetting holds it together until it strikes the fire 
and becomes coked, otherwise if fired dry the sharp 
exhausts would pull a large percentage of it through 
the flues and smoke-stack unburned. Coal may also 
be wetted enough to lay the dust. 

Ques.: 44. What should be the condition of your 
fire when a stop is made at a station, or upon 
reaching the summit of a long up-grade? 


MECHANICAL EXAMINATIONS 


23 


Ans.: When a stop is made at a station the last fire 
should have been put in far enough from the station 
so that the gases are burned out from the coal when 
steam is shut off. There should be a good bed of fire 
in the fire-box, however, so that the fire can be built 
up quickly and the steam pressure maintained when 
starting away from the station. Upon reaching the 
summit of a long up-grade the gases should be suffi¬ 
ciently burned out of the coal so that when the engine 
is shut off in tipping over the summit there will be a 
good bright bed of fire left and but little smoke pro¬ 
duced. In case there is plenty of water in the boiler 
the fire should be allowed to burn down sufficiently so 
that the engine will not pop off while drifting down 
the hill. 

Ques.: 45. What is the proper method of using 
dampers? 

Ans.: The proper method of using dampers is to 
allow for a sufficient supply of air to pass upward 
through the fire, thus allowing the air to become heated 
and in a better condition to unite with the volatile 
gases given off from the fuel. Opening the dampers 
causes the fire to burn more rapidly, because of the 
oxygen admitted with the air which aids in combustion. 


24 


THE NEW FIRST AND SECOND YEAR 


Closing the dampers causes the fire to burn less rapidly 
because of the restricted amount of oxygen 1 which is 
being furnished through the dampers. If too little air 
is supplied, combustion is imperfect, causing the vola¬ 
tile gases to pass off unconsumed. If too much air is 
admitted, the heat of the fire is absorbed by it, and if 
admitted in sufficient volume it would blow out the 
fire just as a match is blown out by the air. 

Ques.: 46. Can you fire an engine more intelli¬ 
gently by watching the water level? Why? 

Ans.: Yes; if upon approaching a station or the sum¬ 
mit of a grade the water level is high, the fire can 1 be 
burned low before shutting off, to prevent the engine 
popping off; but if the water level is low a bright fire 
should be maintained while the boiler is being filled. 
There are also many other reasons why the water level 
should be closely watched at all times. In some cases 
engineers allow firemen to pump the engine in order 
that they may be able to regulate the fire to corre¬ 
spond with the amount of water in the boiler. 

Ques.: 47. Is blowing off at pop valves a waste 
of steam? Why? 

Ans.: Yes; because each minute the pop valve is 


MECHANICAL EXAMINATIONS 


25 


open about fifteen pounds of coal are wasted; this is 
equivalent to one scoopful of coal each minute. 

Ques.: 48. Describe a blower and its use and 
abuse. 

Ans.: A blower consists of a pipe leading from the 
steam space of the boiler to the front end of the en¬ 
gine. There is a valve close to the boiler and the 
end of the pipe in the front end is turned so that when 
the steam passes through this pipe it will blow directly 
up through the stack. In this manner a draft can be 
produced on the fire while the engine is not using 
steam. The blower should only be used when the steam 
is shut off to keep the fire burning brightly where 
necessary to increase the pressure or in maintaining 
the pressure while the injector is being worked. It 
should not be used while steam is being used, or when 
the fire is being cleaned or dumped unless absolutely 
necessary, and then as light as practicable. 

Ques.: 49. What should you do to prevent en¬ 
gine from blowing off and to prevent black smoke 
when throttle is closed for station? 

Ans.: The last charge of fuel should have been put 
in far enough away from the station to give time for 


26 


THE NEW FIRST AND SECOND YEAR 


the gases to have burned before steam is shut off. Care 
should be taken, however, to have a good bed of fire, 
so that it may be quickly built up again when starting 
away in order to maintain the steam pressure. 

Ques.: 60. Why are the holes in the fire-box 
door and deflector inside of furnace a benefit? 

Ans.: They are a benefit because they serve to ad¬ 
mit oxygen above the fire when needed. 

Ques.: 51. Do you think it is to your own and 
the company’s interest to assist the engineer in 
the performance of his duties? 

Ans.: Yes; it is assuredly to my own interest, be¬ 
cause by so doing I learn things by actual experience, 
as well as by observation and study, and it is of inter¬ 
est to the company because I make myself more useful 
and valuable by becoming more proficient and better 
fitted for promotion. 

Ques.: 52. How much coal did you burn per 
1,000 ton-miles last month? 

Ans.: The student must answer this question in ac¬ 
cordance with the facts. 

Ques.: 53. How does this compare with other 
engines and crews in the same service? 


MECHANICAL EXAMINATIONS 


27 


Ans.: The student must also answer this from his 
own knowledge. 

Ques.: 54. Why this difference (if any)? 

Ans.: This must also be answered by the student. 

Ques.: 55. Do you consider it to your interest 
to keep the engine you are firing in as cleanly a 
condition as possible under the circumstances? 

Ans.: The student should be able to truthfully an¬ 
swer that he does. 

Ques.: 56. Do you consider it to your interest 
to cheerfully comply with all orders emanating from 
your superior officers? 

Ans.: The student should also be able to answer 
this question in the affirmative. 


OIL FIRING. * 

Ques.: 57. What are the fireman’s duties on 
arrival at engine-house previous to going out with 
an oil-burning engine? 

Ans.: It is his duty to see that the heater is ad¬ 
justed and the oil is heated sufficiently, and that the 
oil is in condition to flow freely to the burner. 



28 


THE NEW FIRST AND SECOND YEAR 


Ques.: 58. How warm should oil be at all times 
in tank? 

Ans.: The best results are obtained when 1 the oil is 
heated to such a temperature that the hand can be held 
on the tank, or to about 110 degrees F. 

Ques.: 59. If oil is too warm what happens? 

Ans.: Some of the qualities of the oil are lost by 
the constant boiling and the burner does not work so 
well and will make it more difficult to operate. 

Ques.: 60. What tools are necessary for firing 
purposes on oil burner? 

Ans : The necessary tools allowed by the railroad 
which the student should be able to name. 

Ques.: 61. What is liable to happen if heater 
valve is open too much? 

Ans.: It is very apt to burst a hose. 

Ques.: 62. What should be done on approaching 
oil supply stations where additional supply of fuel 
oil is to be taken? 

Ans.: See that there are no lamps or lights on the 
tender when about to stop. 

Ques.: 63. What care must be exercised in the 


MECHANICAL EXAMINATIONS 


29 


use of lamps, torches or lanterns about oil tanks, 
whether hot or cold? Why? 

Ans.: Not to carry or permit any one to carry oil 
lamps or torches within a distance of ten feet of tank 
opening. For fear of explosions. 

Ques.: 64. How should depth of oil tanks be 
measured without taking a light to manhole? 

Ans.: By the gauge. 

Ques.: 65. What precaution must be taken be¬ 
fore entering tanks that have been used for oil, to 
clean or make repairs? 

Ans.: Should not enter tanks until they have been 
thoroughly cleansed. 

Ques.: 66. How should fire be lighted in oil- 
burning locomotives? 

Ans.: See that the boiler is properly filled by try¬ 
ing the gauge cocks when the fire is lighted in' the 
round-house. Steam connection can be made to the 
three-way cock on the smoke-arch which will act as 
blower and atomizer. If there is 20 or 30 pounds steam 
pressure it can be operated with its own blower. See 
that the front of the fire-box is free from carbon or 
anything that would obstruct it from burning; it must 


30 


THE NEW FIRST AND SECOND YEAR 


have free passage so oil can get to burner. Open the 
front damper, put on the blower strong enough to 
make the necessary draft, open the atomizer valve long 
enough to blow out any water which might be in the 
steam-pipe or burner; next close the valve and throw a 
bunch of lighted old waste in front of the burner, then 
open the atomizer sufficiently to carry oil to the waste 
and open the regulator slowly until the oil is known 
to be ignited—this can be seen through the fire-box 
door. 

Ques.: 67. Should the fire go out and it is de¬ 
sired to rekindle it while bricks are hot, is it safe 
to depend upon the hot bricks igniting the oil with¬ 
out the use of lighted waste? 

Ans.: No; waste should always be used in re-kin¬ 
dling the fire as the bricks are not very reliable and are 
apt to do damage from the explosive gases formed. 

Ques.: 684 What is termed an atomizer in an 
oil-burning locomotive and what service does it 
perform? 

Ans.: The atomizers are made of brass, 12 inches 
long, 4 Vi inches wide and 2 inches thick from top to 
bottom, divided into two parts by a partition in the 
middle; they separate the oil into a fine spray and blow 


MECHANICAL EXAMINATIONS 


31 


it into the fire-box. The atomizer is located just 
under the mud ring, pointed a little upward, so the 
stream of oil and spray of steam will strike the op¬ 
posite wall a few inches above the bottom if it were to 
pass clear across the box. Deep fire-boxes have the 
atomizer at the back end of the box, while the shal¬ 
low and long fire-boxes have it located at the front end, 
pointed back. 

Ques.: 69. In starting up or shutting off throttle 
of an engine how should fireman regulate the fire, 
in advance or after the action of the engineer? 

Ans.: In advance of the engineer’s action. 

Ques.: 70. Is it, therefore, necessary that the 
fireman and engineer on an oil-burning engine work 
in perfect harmony and advise each other of intend¬ 
ed action at every change of conditions? 

Ans.: Yes; they should work in harmony with one 
another and while the fireman should watch every 
move the engineer makes it is also the duty of the 
engineer to advise the fireman of every change of the 
throttle so that he can operate his valves according 
therewith and thus save fuel. 

Ques.: 71. What is the effect on the fire-box of 
forcing the fire on an oil-burning locomotive? 


32 


THE NEW FIRST AND SECOND YEAR 


Ans.: It will cause the flues to leak. An even 
temperature should always be kept in the fire-box. 

Ques.: 72. Is a careful regulation of steam and 
oil valves and dampers necessary to obtain the most 
economical results? 

Ans.: Yes; the firing valve should be opened suffi¬ 
ciently to make it certain that enough oil is being fed 
to produce a good fire, but not enough to cause a great 
volume of black smoke. 

Ques.: 73. How can you judge whether the com¬ 
bustion is good or bad, so that the valve may be 
regulated accordingly? 

Ans.: By noting the smoke emitted from the stack. 

Ques.: 74. How should flues be cleaned from 
soot when running, and about how often is it nec¬ 
essary? 

Ans.: The flues should be cleaned out after leaving 
terminals, or after an engine has been standing for 
some time. The use of the sand frequently and in 
small quantities is recommended. 

Ques.: 75. Is the injudicious use of the blower 
particuarly injurious to an oil-burning locomotive? 

Ans.: Yes; and the frequent use of the blower is 


MECHANICAL EXAMINATIONS 


33 


injurious to a fire-box and the cold air drawn in 
through the flues will cause them to leak. 

Ques.: 76. Is the blower more injurious when a 
light smoke is emitted from the stack or when a 
black smoke is emitted? 

Ans.: It is more injurious when a light smoke is 
emitted from the stack. 

Ques.: 77„ In drifting down long grades should 
fire be shut off entirely or burned lightly, and why? 

Ans.: The fire should be burning lightly, yet it 
should not be permitted to get too low, allowing the 
fire-box to lose its temperature and thus causing the 
flues to leak. 

Ques.: 78. How should the fire be handled when 
switching? 

Ans.: It should be used the same as when running. 

Ques.: 79. Would not some fuel be wasted in this 
manner? 

Ans.: Very little will be wasted if the fireman 
watches closely. 

Ques.: 80. How should the fire be handled leav¬ 
ing stations? 


34 


THE NEW FIRST AND SECOND YEAR 


Ans.: It should be burning brightly and sufficiently 
strong to keep from going out. 

Ques.: 81. Which is desirable to use as much or 
as little steam jet atomizer as possible? 

Ans.: Use as little atomizer as possible at all times. 

Ques.: 82. What is the result of too little steam 
atomizer, when standing at stations or engine work¬ 
ing light? 

Ans.: It is very apt to allow the fire to go out. 

Ques.: 83. If too much steam atomizer is used 
with little fire? 

Ans.: It will use too much steam and reduce the 
temperature of the fire-box. 

Ques.: 84. When fire kicks and smokes, what 
should be done? 

Ans.: The blower should be put on and the damp¬ 
ers closed. 

Ques.: 85. How should damper be used on an 
oil-burning engine? 

Ans.: It should be closed when drifting to prevent 
cold air being drawn in, causing flues and stay-bolts 
to leak. 


MECHANICAL EXAMINATIONS 


35 


Ques.: 86. About how much smoke do you con¬ 
sider an oil-burning engine should make under ad¬ 
verse conditions, when engine is steaming good, but 
is being crowded by engineer to make up time? 

Ans.: No more than when an engine is working or¬ 
dinarily. 

Ques.: 87. What color is most desirable at peep 
holes in fire-door? 

Ans.: A bright, ruddy color. 

Ques.: 88. What will produce a ruddy color? 

Ans.: Fy feeding only the amount of oil that is 
properly burned and watching the regulating valves 
closely. 

Ques.: 89. How does water in oil affect the fire? 

Ans.: It affects the flame and requires more oil than' 
otherwise. 



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SECOND YEAR 
MECHANICAL EXAMINATION 
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 


s 


SECOND YEAR MECHANICAL EXAMINA¬ 
TION, QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS. 


Ques.: 101. Have there been any new signals in¬ 
troduced during the year, or any changes of old 
ones? 

Ans.: If the student has been as observant as he 
should be in order to make a good engineer he should 
be able to answer this question intelligently and sat¬ 
isfactorily. 

Ques.: 102. If, upon opening fire-box door, you 
discovered there was what is commonly called a 
red fire, what might be the cause? 

Ans.: That the grates had become clogged with 
ashes and clinkers so that sufficient air could not pass 
through them to the fire. 

Ques.: 103. If the fire were not getting air 
enough through the grates why not partially open 
the door to supply the deficiency? 

Ans.: Because too much air would be admitted and 

the temperature of the fire-box chamber would be re- 
39 



40 


THE NEW FIRST AND SECOND YEAR 


duced resulting in the air and gases failing to mix 
properly. 

Ques.: 104. How can you prove this theory of 
the mixing of air with gases? 

Ans.: This theory can be proved by closing up the 
fire-box and dampers so that no air can enter and the 
fire will gradually die out, showing that it is necessary 
to have air (or the oxygen' of the air) mix with the 
gases given off by the fuel in order to cause perfect 
combustion. 

Ques.: 105. What is the result if a hole is formed 
in the fire? 

Ans.: It will cause the engine to work hard or slip 
with dampers open. It also allows too much draft to 
enter through the fire and causes imperfect combus¬ 
tion. 

Ques.: 106. What, in your opinion, is the best 
way to fire a locomotive? 

Ans.: To fire as lightly as consistent with the work 
required, to avoid black smoke trailing back over the 
train, to avoid popping and to endeavor to maintain 
a uniform steam pressure under all circumstances. 

Ques.: 107. How can you admit too much air? 


MECHANICAL EXAMINATIONS 


41 


Ans.: By opening the fire-door too far and too often. 

Ques.: 108. What would be theoretically perfect 
firing? 

Ans.: Theoretically perfect firing, or perfect com¬ 
bustion, is obtained when each particle of carbon 
unites with two particles of oxygen, forming the mix¬ 
ture carbonic acid gas, producing nearly 15,000 heat 
units. Should the supply of air be too small for ob¬ 
taining two parts of oxygen for each particle of carbon, 
one part of each would combine, producing carbonic 
oxide gas, producing only about 4,500 heat units. 

Ques.: 109* How can we approximate this result 
most closely? 

Ans.: By careful firing, experience and observation 
and by applying theoretical knowledge in practical op¬ 
eration. 

Ques.: 110. In the case of an engine working 
hard and using bituminous coal, do you think it pos¬ 
sible to admit too much air through the fire? 

Ans.: Yes; because if too much air is supplied the 
heat of the fire is absorbed by it and it is also apt tc 
blow out the fire. 

Ques.: 111. Describe the general form of a lo¬ 
comotive boiler. 


42 


THE NEW FIRST AND SECOND YEAR 


Ans.: It is cylindrical in form. It usually has a 
rectangular shaped fire-box at one end and a smoke- 
box at the other end. Flues run through the cylindri¬ 
cal part, which, like the fire-box, are surrounded by 
water. 

Ques.: 112. What parts are surrounded by water, 
and why? 

Ans.: The flues and fire-box are always surrounded 
by water. This is necessary in order to generate steam 
rapidly and still not overheat these comparatively thin 
tubes and sheets. The greater the area of heating 
surface in the fire-box and flues, the more rapidly can 
steam be formed. 

Ques.: 113. Describe a locomotive fire-box. 

Ans.: A locomotive firebox consists of a crown 
sheet, a flue sheet, and back sheet, in which is con¬ 
tained the firedoor and side sheets, which end at the 
bottom in the mud-ring. The side sheets are sup¬ 
ported by stay-bolts, which extend through to the 
outer shell, and the space between the inner and outer 
shell is known as the water leg of the boiler. The 
crown sheet is supported by crown bars or radial 
stays, which are fastened to the outer shell of the boiler 
and the crown sheet is further braced by stay-rods, 


MECHANICAL EXAMINATIONS 


which are fastened to the shell of the boiler, and also 
to the back boiler-head. The back sheet and the front 
sheet below the flues, known as the throat sheet, are 
also supported by staybolts, to the outer shell. The 
bottom of the firebox is open', and in it are fitted the 
grates on which the fire is carried. 

Ques.: 114. What is commonly termed a “wide” 
fire-box? 

Ans.: A “wide” fire-box is one which is set on top 
of the frames and extends out on each side beyond 
driving wheels. With this type a larger grate area 
is obtained in the same length of fire-box for the pur¬ 
pose of obtaining slower combustion per square foot 
of grate surface. 

Ques.: 115. What is the object of having wide 
fire-boxes? 

Ans.: The advantages of the wide fire-box are in¬ 
creased grate area and increased direct heating surface, 
the increased heating surface allowing the heat of the 
fire to be better utilized; the increased grate area al¬ 
lowing a large nozzle to be used, reducing the amount 
of back pressure in' the cylinders, making a lighter draft 
on the fire and allowing a slower rate of combustion 


44 


THE NEW FIRST AND SECOND YEAR 


of the coal in the fire-box, all three of which should 
produce considerable economy in the use of the fuel. 

Ques.: 116. To what strains is a fire-box sub¬ 
jected? 

Ans.: To crushing strains and those of unequal ex¬ 
pansion and contraction 1 . 

Ques.: 117. How are the sheets of a fire-box 
supported? 

Ans.: They are supported by means of stay-bolts 
screwed through the inside and outside sheets and with 
their ends riveted over. 

Ques.: 118. In what manner is a crown sheet 
supported? 

Ans.: Fy means of crown bars or radial stay-bolts. 

Ques.: 119. What is a bad feature about crown 
bars? 

Ans.: They are hard to keep clean and cause “mud- 
burnt” crown sheets. 

Ques.: 120. What are the advantages of a radial 
stayed crown sheet? 

Ans.: They are comparatively easy to keep clean 
and cheaper to repair. 


MECHANICAL EXAMINATIONS 


45 


Ques.: 121. How are inside and outside sheets 
of fire-box secured at bottom? 

Ans.: They are riveted to a wrought-iron ring called 
the mud-ring. 

Ques.: 122. Describe the ash-pan and its pur¬ 
pose. 

Ans.: It is a receptacle secured to the bottom of the 
fire-box and is provided with two or more dampers 
designed to regulate the admission of air to the fire. 
It holds the ashes dropped from the fire-box and thus 
prevents their setting fire to bridges, cattle-guards and 
other property elsewhere along the road. 

Ques.: 123. Why should the draft pan of an oil¬ 
burning locomotive be made air-tight? 

Ans.: Because any draft through the fire-box would 
have a tendency to put the fire out. 

Ques.: 124. Wlhat is a “wagon-top” boiler? 

Ans.: It is a boiler which has the fire-box end made 
larger than the cylindrical part. 

Ques.: 125. For what reason are boilers con¬ 
structed with “wagon tops”? 

Ans.: In order to provide more steam space. 


46 


THE NEW FIRST AND SECOND YEAR 


Ques.: 126. Why are boilers provided with steam 
domes? 

Ans.: In order to furnish more steam space, obtain 
drier steam, and provide a place for the steam pipe, 
throttle-valve, safety valves and whistle. 

Ques.: 127. What must be the condition of a 
boiler to give the best results? 

Ans.: It must have a good circulation and be clean 
and free from incrustation of any nature, such as 
scale, mud, etc. 

Ques.: 128. What is meant by “circulation” in 
a boiler? 

Ans.: The free movement of the water so that it 
may come in contact with the heating surfaces and 
after being converted into steam, be immediately re¬ 
placed by fresh supplies of water. 

Ques.: 129. How is this assisted by use of arch 
tubes? 

Ans.: They afford a more uniform and continuous 
heat surface owing to the cold air having been par¬ 
tially heated before reaching the flues, hence the heat 
is more readily absorbed by the water and that assists 
circulation. 


MECHANICAL EXAMINATIONS 


47 


Ques.: 130. What would be the effect if a “leg” 
of the fire-box became filled with mud? 

Ans.: There would be no water in' contact with 
the heated sheets and they would in consequence quickly 
become blistered or “mud-burnt.” 

Ques.: 131. What would be the result if fire-box 
sheets became overheated? 

Ans.: They would be forced off the stay-bolts and 
an explosion would occur. 

Ques.: 132. Would it be advisable to put water 
on a sheet that has become bare, and was conse¬ 
quently red-hot? 

Ans.: It would not. 

Ques.: 133. What effect has the stoppage of 
flues? 

Ans.: The heating surface and draught are decreased 
by just so much area. 

Ques.: 134. Why are boiler checks placed so far 
away from the fire-box? 

Ans.: In order to introduce the water into the 
boiler at as great a distance from the fire as possible. 
This permits the water to become somewhat heated 


48 


THE NEW FIRST AND SECOND YEAR 


before coming in contact with the fire-box and also 
tends to better circulation. 

Ques.: 135. What are principal causes of water 
being carried over into the cylinders from the 
boilers? 

Ans.: Priming causes water to be carried into the 
cylinders from the boiler. 

Ques.: 136. When it has been determined that 
the boiler is foaming what should be done? 

Ans.: First, ascertain the water level by partially 
closing the throttle; second, if possible, increase the 
boiler supply and open the blow-off cock, in order to 
get rid of the matter causing the foaming, and third, 
run the engine with greater care because it is so hard 
to ascertain the correct water level, hence there would 
be danger of burning the boiler. 

Ques.: 137. What should be done when the 
boiler is priming? 

Ans.: Lower the water level and keep it lower there¬ 
after. 

Ques.: 138. What is the source of power in a 
locomotive? 


MECHANICAL EXAMINATIONS 


49 


Ans.: Steam, which is generated by heat; therefore, 
primarily heat is the source of power. 

Ques.: 139. How is steam generated, and in what 
manner does it transmit its power to the locomotive? 

Ans.: Steam is the vapor of water, generated by 
heating water above the boiling point, and it trans¬ 
mits its power to the locomotive by the force of ex¬ 
pansion within the cylinder. 

Ques.: 140. When is steam said to be saturated? 
Define superheated steam. 

Ans.: Steam in contact with water. The tempera¬ 
ture depends upon the pressure and varies with it. 
Saturated steam is sometimes called “dry steam” al¬ 
though saturated steam always contains some moisture. 
Superheated steam contains an excess of heat beyond 
the heat necessary to make saturated steam (or as it 
is sometimes called “dry steam”) and this excess of 
heat may be lost without causing any condensation. 

Ques.: 141. What is the temperature of super¬ 
heated steam at 200 pounds gauge pressure? 

Ans.: The normal temperature of steam at 200 
pounds pressure (saturated steam) is 387 degrees 
F. Steam at 200 pounds pressure, which has a tem- 


50 


THE NEW FIRST AND SECOND YEAR 


perature greater than this is superheated steam, no 
matter how little or how much above it the tempera¬ 
ture may be. The best results are obtained by a 
moderate degree of latent or superheat varying from 
50 to 100 degrees. 

Ques.: 142. Are you familiar with the benefits 
to be derived from superheating? 

Ans.: If the student has been as studious and ob¬ 
servant as he should be in order to qualify for pro¬ 
motion he should be able to answer in the affirmative. 

Ques.: 143. What has been your average fuel 
record per 1,000 ton-miles during the past year? 

Ans.: This question the student must answer in ac¬ 
cordance with the facts and his experience. 

Ques.: 144. How many firemen in comparable 
service have done better than this? 

Ans.: This information the student should have ac¬ 
quired by having made comparisons of fuel perform¬ 
ances. 

Ques.: 145, Have you consulted any recognized 
authority as to the amount of water that ought to 
be evaporated in a locomotive boiler to the pound 

of fuel? 


MECHANICAL EXAMINATIONS 


51 


Ans.: Theoretically there should be sufficient heat 
produced from a pound of coal to evaporate from twelve 
to fourteen pounds of water under ordinary conditions. 
But in locomotive practice an evaporation of from 5 
to 8 pounds of water per pound of coal is all that is 
obtained. 

Ques:. 146. What are the advantages of an arch 
in a locomotive fire-box? 

Ans.: The arch induces a more perfect combustion 
by retaining the gases in the firebox until they have 
reached the igniting point. It thus prevents partially 
at least, black smoke by giving the fire time to consume 
the carbon and gases. It also partially heats the cold 
air before it enters the flues, and otherwise acts as a 
deflector on the fire. 

Ques.: 147. In what respects is a hollow arch 
preferable to the solid type? 

Ans.: The hollow arch is constructed with air pas¬ 
sages which are connected with the atmosphere by 
tubes passing through the firebox sheets. It deflects air 
over the fire, more thoroughly mixing the oxygen with 
the gases and thus aids combustion. 

Ques.: 148. What is the advantage of the ex¬ 
tension front end? 


52 


THE NEW FIRST AND SECOND YEAR 


Ans.: To provide space for suitable draft and spark 
appliances. 

Ques.: 149. What provision is made for the reg¬ 
ulation of draft in the extended front end? 

Ans.: The draft is regulated by the following ap¬ 
pliances in the front end: the exhaust nozzle, the dia¬ 
phragm and the draft pipes, or “petticoat” pipes. 

Ques.: 150. Why is netting placed in the front 
end of coal-burning locomotives? 

Ans.: The netting is used to prevent engines throw¬ 
ing fire. 

Ques.: 151. Describe the principle upon which 
the injector works. 

Ans.: The action' of the injector is due, first, to the 
difference between the “kinetic” or moving energy and 
“static” or standing energy; second, to the fact that 
steam at a pressure travels at a tremendous velocity, 
and if placed in contact with a stream of water, im¬ 
parts to the latter much of its velocity and besides is 
condensed to water itself. 

Ques.: 152. What is the difference between the 
lifting and non-lifting injector? 

Ans.: A lifting injector will create sufficient vacuum 


MECHANICAL EXAMINATIONS 


53 


to raise the water from the level of the tank. The 
tubes in a non-lifting injector are shaped differently 
and will not draw the water, but merely force it into 
the boiler. 

Ques.: 153. Will injector work with a leak be¬ 
tween injector and tank? Why? Will it prime? 

Ans.: Not if a bad leak; it will not prime, because 
the air admitted through the leak destroys the vacuum 
necessary to raise the water to the injector level. A 
non-lifting injector will often work as the water will 
escape from the leak instead of air into it. 

Ques.: 154., If it primes properly, but breaks 
when steam is turned on wide, where would you 
expect to find the trouble? 

Ans.: Insufficient water supply, due to tank valve 
not open, strainer stopped up, hose kinked, etc. In¬ 
jector tubes out of line, limed up or combining nozzle 
cut out, wet steam from throttle. 

Ques.: 155. If it will not prime, where would you 
look for the trouble? 

Ans.: Insufficient water supply or priming valve out 
of order. 

Ques.: 156. Will injector prime if checks leak 


54 


TI-IE NEW FIRST AND SECOND YEAR 


badly or are stuck up? If injector throttle leaks 
bad? 

Ans.: Not if either leak badly. 

Ques.: 157. If steam or water show at overflow 
pipe when injector is not working, how do you tell 
if leak is from check or injector throttle? 

Ans.: Close the main steam valve on the fountain, 
which will stop the leak if it be from the throttle. 

Ques.: 158. Will injector prime if primer valve 
leaks? Will it prevent its working? 

Ans.: No; but may waste some from the overflow. 

Ques.: 159. Will an injector work if all of the 
steam is not condensed by the water? 

Ans.: No. 

Ques.: 160. How should water be fed to the 
boiler—continuously, or would you close injector 
when pulling out after each stop? 

Ans.: Water should be delivered to the boiler stead¬ 
ily and in just sufficient quantity to replace the water 
which has been evaporated in doing work. 

Ques.: 161. If you had to take down tank hose, 
how would you stop the water from flowing out of 


MECHANICAL EXAMINATIONS 


55 


the tank that has the syphon connection, instead of 
the old-style tank valve? 

Ans.: First open the small pet cock at the top of the 
syphon. 

Ques.: 162. Is the water glass safe to run by? 

Ans.: It most certainly is not safe. 

Ques.: 163. What is the least depth of water on 
crown sheet that is safe? 

Ans.: The crown sheet should have enough water 
on' it to cover it in all places and thus prevent it from 
burning. 

Ques.: 164. Is any more water used when an en¬ 
gine foams than when water is solid? 

Ans.: Very much more—one cubic inch of water is 
equal in weight to one cubic foot of steam. 

Ques.: 165. Describe the manner in which a 
sight-feed lubricator operates. 

Ans.: The steam is condensed into water and flows 
into the reservoir, as water is heavier than oil. The 
oil rises and then passes through a tube down into 
a cavity in the bottom of the lubricator, and then 
through the sight feed glasses, which are filled with 
water. There it is caught by a jet of steam from the 


56 


THE NEW FIRST AND SECOND YEAR 


equalizing tube and is taken into the oil pipe leading 
to the cylinder. 

Ques.: 166. Does the draft from an open cab 
window affect the working of the lubricators? Why? 

Ans.: Yes; the cold air chills the oil which will not 
flow regularly unless it is of uniform temperature. 

Ques.: 167. What else might cause irregularity 
of feed? 

Ans.: Dirt in the lubricator or choke plugs too 
large. 

Ques.: 168. If a lubricator feeds faster when 
throttle is closed than open, where is the trouble? 

Ans.: Choke plugs too large in opening. 

Ques.: 169. Will any bad results ensue from 
filling a lubricator full with cold oil? 

Ans.: Yes; when the oil becomes hot it will ex¬ 
pand and may bulge or burst the lubricator. 

Ques.: 170. If the sight feeds get stopped up, 
how would you clean them out? 

Ans.: Remove the regulator valves and blow out the 
nozzle with steam; or run a fine wire or pin through 
the holes. 


MECHANICAL EXAMINATIONS 


57 


Ques.: 171. How would you clean out chokers? 

Ans.: By disconnecting the oil pipes and running a 
wire through them. 

Ques.: 172. Which is the better practice, to close 
the feed valves or water valve while waiting on sid¬ 
ings, etc? 

Ans.: The feed valve, as the water valve may not 
;be tight. 

Ques.: 173. Would you feed oil as fast for a 
speed of fifteen miles per hour as for a speed of 
thirty miles per hour? 

Ans.: No. 

Ques.: 174. Name a few of the principal troubles 
that are to be looked for on a locomotive. 

Ans.: Leaky flues, hot bearings, breakages of valve 
gearing, cylinder head blowing out, pounding and blows. 

Ques.: 175. What is a dry valve and how can it 
be located? 

Ans.: A dry valve is caused by the oil not reaching 
the steam chests due to being held up in the oil pipe 
because the steam chest pressure is greater than the 
pressure at the lubricator end of the pipe. You will 
know that the valve is dry by the engine beginning to 


58 


THE NEW FIRST AND SECOND YEAR 


lag with the train and by the sound of the exhaust 
and the rattle or pull on the reverse lever. 

Ques.: 176. How can a piston blow be located? 

Ans.: Place the engine on the center, on the side 
you wish to test. Plumb the rocker arm and this will 
place the valve central on its seat. Open cylinder 
cocks and throttle. If steam blows out of one or both 
cylinder cocks when the valve is covering the ports, 
it indicates that the piston is blowing and on which 
side. 

Ques.: 177. What should be done in case a rod 
brass becomes hot? 

Ans.: It should be let run until all the babitt is 
thrown out, then cool it off with grease. If water is 
used be sure all the babitt has been thrown out before 
using the water, as otherwise there is great liability 
of the babitt hardening in the oil-hole and stopping it 
up, in which case there is no way of properly lubricat¬ 
ing the pin until the oil-hole is cleaned out again. 

Ques.: 178. If an eccentric becomes hot how can 
it be relieved without undue delay so there will be 
no danger of breaking the strap? 

Ans.: If an eccentric was hot would keep lever 


MECHANICAL EXAMINATIONS 


59 


hooked up as near center as possible and use valve oil 
on the strap. If the strap was too tight on the ec¬ 
centric would loosen bolts and put in a liner at first 
stop. If a forward motion eccentric is heating, by 
having the lever well up in the quadrant, a good share 
of the work is taken on' the back motion eccentric. 

Ques.: 179. What is the objection to using 
water for cooling hot bearings? 

Ans.: Water may harden the metal and make it 
brittle so that there will be danger of cracks being 
started that may result in a broken pin some time in 
the future. 

Ques.: 180. How should side rods be keyed? 

Ans.: Place the engine on the dead center either 
forward or back. First key the middle connection, next 
the ends of rods and observe that the rod moves freely 
on the pin. Now place the engine on the opposite dead 
center and notice if the rods move freely at this point 
also. This is particularly necessary with rod brasses 
having keys on both sides of the pin and which are 
apt to be made either too long or too short, throwing 
the rods out of tram and causing undue strain on rods 
and driving boxes and also danger of broken rods or 
pins. 


60 


THE NEW FIRST AND SECOND YEAR 


Ques.: 181. If the sand-pipe on one side of the 
engine becomes clogged is it advisable to sand the 
rail from the other side only? 

Ans.: It is never advisable to sand the rail from 
one side only because should the engine catch the 
strain 1 would all come on one side, which would be 
liable to cause one of the pins or possibly an axle to 
twist off. 

Ques.: 182. Are you familiar with the construc¬ 
tion of the Stephenson and VValschaert valves? 

Ans.: This must be answered by the student ac¬ 
cording to his own knowledge. He should be able to 
answer in the affirmative. 

Ques.: 183. What is meant by the lead of a 
valve? 

Ans.: Lead of a valve is the amount of opening a 
valve has when the piston is at the beginning of its 
stroke. 

Ques.: 184. What is meant by outside lap? 

Ans.: Outside lap is the amount the outside edges 
of a valve project over the edges of the port when 
the valve is placed centrally on its seat. 


MECHANICAL EXAMINATIONS 


61 


Ques.: 185. Why are locomotives given lap? 

Ans.: Locomotives are given lap on the valve so 
that the admission of steam may be cut off at any de¬ 
sired portion of the stroke of the piston, the object 
being to effect economy in the use of steam, enabling 
it to work expansively. 

Ques.: 186. What is inside lap and inside clear¬ 
ance? 

Ans.: Inside lap (sometimes called exhaust lap) is 
the amount the inside edges of valve project over the 
inner edges of the ports. Inside clearance is the 
amount the inside edge of the valve comes short of 
covering the ports when the valve is in the middle of 
its seat. 

Ques.: 187. How would you manage if grates 
were burned out or broken while on the road? 

Ans.: Block up the broken or burned grates with 
fish-plates, brick or anything conveniently at hand, and 
disconnect the good grate immediately ahead and back 
of the burned section in order to prevent disturbing the 
other grates when shaking down the fire. 

Ques.: 188. How would you locate a pound in 
driving box, rod brasses, etc? 


62 


THE NEW FIRST AND SECOND YEAR 


Ans.: By placing the right main pin on the upper 
forward eighth, which brings the left main pin to 
the upper back eighth. Then by blocking the drivers, 
giving the cylinders a little steam and reversing the 
engine under pressure, both sides can be tested at the 
same time. 

Ques.: 189. How would you proceed to set up 
wedges? 

Ans.: The engine should be placed with the crank 
pin of the right side on' the upper forward eighth, 
which brings the crank pin of the left side on the back 
upper eighth. Block the wheels and with the reverse 
lever in the forward motion apply a small quantity of 
steam. As the action of the steam against the piston 
has a tendency to move it forward, the strain is thrown 
against the shoes, permitting a free movement of the 
wedges. The wedges should be set up with an ordi¬ 
nary wrench as far as possible and then pulled down 
again about one-eighth of an inch to prevent the box 
from sticking either from over-heating of the box or 
defective lubrication of the wedge. 

Ques.: 190. Are you on good terms with your 
engineer, and do you discuss matters with him 


MECHANICAL EXAMINATIONS 63 

pertaining to your business, and are you interested in 
his train orders, etc? 

Ans.: While the correct answer to the above ques¬ 
tion should be given in the affirmative, it must be an¬ 
swered in accordance with the student’s own experi¬ 
ence and habits. 

Ques.: 191. Do you consider it to your interest 
to work to the best of your ability for the interests 
of your employer, and be economical in the use of 
fuel and supplies? 

Ans.: The student should also answer this ques¬ 
tion in the affirmative and try to realize that what is 
for the interest of the company is best for him. 

I 


END OF THE FIRST AND SECOND YEAR 
EXAMINATIONS 








I , 








/ 



J 






INDEX 


FIRST YEAR EXAMINATION 


Page. Ques. 


Air, quantity needed for fire. 20 36 

Anthracite coal, difference between bitu¬ 
minous . 13 13 

Bituminous coal, composition of. 12 12 

Bituminous coal, difference between an¬ 
thracite . 13 13 

Black smoke . 16 24 

Black smoke, avoiding . 16 26 

Black smoke, building fire to avoid. 29 29 

Black smoke, preventing. 25 49 

Blower, description of. 25 48 

Blowing off at pop valves. 24 47 

Blowing off, preventing . 25 49 

Carbon . 13 14 

Coal, bituminous, composition of. 12 12 

Coal, difference between bituminous and an¬ 
thracite . 13 13 ' 

Coal, wetting down. 22 43 

Combustion . 14 1*7 

Dampers, proper use of. 23 45 

Draft through fire, how produced.. 18 33 

Duties of fireman . 9 1 

Fire, appearance of at high temperature.... 15 21 

Fire, building up to avoid black smoke. 17 29 

Fire, condition of . 15 20 

Fire, effect of putting coal on. 15 23 

Fire, how maintained. 15 22 

Fire, proper condition of. 22 44 

Fire-door, cause of “pull” on. 21 41 

65 



























66 


INDEX 


Page. Ques. 

Firebox-door, effects of opening. 19 35 

Firing, method of. 17 28 

Flues, leaking . 18 30 

Nozzle, effect of, on fire. 19 34 

Oil as fuel .27-35 58-89 

Oxygen . 14 15 

Pressure, atmospheric .12 10 

Pressure, steam gauge. 11 9 

“Puli’' on fire-door, cause of. 21 41 

Safety valve . 12 11 

Steam .*. 11 8 

Smoke, black, building fire to avoid. 17 29 

Smoke, black, avoiding. 16 26 

Smoke, black . 16 24 

Water level, watching . 24 46 

Wetting down coal .. 22 43 

SECOND TEAS EXAMINATION 

Air and gases, mixing . 40 104 

Arch, hollow . 51 147 

Arch in firebox, advantages of. 51 146 

Arch tubes . 46 129 

Ash pan, its purpose. 45 122 

Bearings, hot . 59 179 

Blow piston, to locate. 59 176 

Boiler checks . 47 134 

Boiler, circulation in. 46 128 

Boiler, condition for best results. 46 127 




























INDEX 


Boiler, locomotive, form of. 

Boiler, wagon top. 

Burned grates. 

Circulation in boiler. 

Clearance, inside . 

Draft, regulation of. 

Draft, from cab-window. 

Dry valve . 

Eccentric, hot . 

Foaming . 

Firebox, locomotive . 

Firebox, wide . 

Fireboxes, wide, object of. 

Firing, best method of. 

Fire, hole in, effect of. 

Fire not getting air enough. 

Firing, theoretically perfect. 

Gases and air mixing . 

Grates, burned . 

Hole in fire, effect of. 

Hollow arch . 

Hot bearings, using water for. 

Injector, principle of . 

Injector, difference between lifting and non¬ 
lifting . 

Injector, breaking . 

Injector, leak between and tank. 


67 

Page. Ques. 

41 

111 

45 

124 

61 

187 

46 

128 

61 

186 

52 

149 

56 

166 

57 

175 

58 

178 

48 

136 

42 

113 

43 

114 

43 

115 

40 

106 

40 

105 

39 

103 

41 

108 

40 

104 

61 

187 

40 

105 

51 

147 

59 

179 

52 

151 

52 

152 

53 

154 

53 

153 




























68 


INDEX 


Injector troubles . 

Inside clearance . 

Inside lap . 

Keying side rods . 

Lap . 

Lap, inside . 

Lap, outside . 

Lead . 

Locomotive boiler, general form of. 
Lubricator, sight feed, principle of 

Lubricator troubles . 

Mixing of air and gases. 

Outside lap . 

Piston blow, to locate .. 

Pounds . 

Priming . 

Rod brass, hot . 

Sand pipe, clogged on one side. 

Setting up wedges . 

Side rods, keying. 

Steam, how generated. 

Steam, dry . 

Steam, saturated . 

Steam, superheated .. 

Troubles, principal, on locomotive 

Valve, dry . 

Water, feeding to boiler. 

Water, depth on crown sheet. 

Water, used when foaming....... 

Water glass . 

Wedges, setting up. 


Page. 

Ques. 

. 53 

5155 
1159 

. 61 

186 

. 61 

186 

. 59 

180 

. 61 

185 

. 61 

186 

. 60 

184 

. 60 

183 

. 41 

111 

. 55 

165 

. . 56 

5 166 

1173 

. 40 

104 

. 60 

184 

. 58 

176 

. 61 

188 

. 48 

135 

. 58 

177 

. 60 

181 

. 62 

189 

. 59 

180 

. 49 

139 

. 49 

140 

. 49 

140 

. .49 

140 

. 57 

174 

. 57 

175 

. 54 

160 

. 55 

163 

. 55 

164 


162 

. 62 

189 

































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